Rev. Jesse Jacksons Fights Grammy Awards Restructuring

Last year, the Grammy Awards announced the downsizing from 109 categories to 78, eliminating entire awards or reforming it into an all-inclusive category. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is stepping in to announce his dismay of the restructuring of the awards.

He recently sent a letter to Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Academy, stating his concerns that are “Music of all arts should be expansive and inclusive.” He added, “So much talent comes from the base of poverty and those in the margins. You limit the base, you miss too much talent.”

The civil rights leader has not called for a boycott of the 54th Grammy Awards ceremony but he said “We are prepared to work with artists and ministers and activists to occupy at the Grammys so our appeal of consideration of mercy really might be heard.”